While attending a Halloween party on October 28, 2000, Lee was fatally shot by a Los Angeles Police Department officer.

Lee was born in Redding, California and grew up in a middle-class family in Sacramento where he attended Valley High School.

The move was precipitated by Lee being cast by Tim Bond in, The Colored Museum, at The Empty Space Theater.

[1][2] He also acted in The Kentucky Cycle at the Intiman Theatre, and appeared in productions of The Colored Museum, Uncle Vanya, The Meeting as Malcolm X, and as the lead character in Othello.

[5] On October 28, 2000, Lee was attending a costume party in Benedict Canyon at a friend's mansion dubbed "The Castle".

[7] On October 30, 2000, Bernard C. Parks, who was then the chief of the LAPD, held a press conference to address the events surrounding Lee's shooting.

Parks also showed a replica gun that Lee was carrying at the time of the shooting, comparing it to a real Desert Eagle.

[10] On December 11, 2000, attorney Johnnie Cochran filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD on behalf of Lee's family.

According to Officer Hopper, while he was searching the area outside the home, he noticed one party attendant standing outside looking "intently" through a glass door.

Lee was standing in front of Officer Hopper slightly to the left wearing his devil mask on top of his head.

[14] Officer Hopper accounted the rest of the events during his interview with investigators: The male Black (Lee) turns and looks toward the glass door where I'm positioned...

[14]In conjunction with their investigation, the LAPD employed an expert who created a computer reenactment based on physical evidence of the shooting.

In October 2001, the LAPD internal review board ruled that Officer Hopper's actions were justifiable and he was "in policy" using deadly force.

According to LAPD officials, the board also recommended that Officer Hopper seek additional training to "improve his tactics".

Lee's shooting drew more criticism to the LAPD at a time when the department's reputation was already suffering due to widespread police brutality, corruption and civil rights violations.